The plains spadefoot is a burrowing toad of the North American Great Plains, family Scaphiopodidae, named for the hard, sharp edged growth on each hind foot that it uses to dig backward into loose soil. It spends most of the year underground and emerges to breed explosively in temporary pools after heavy rain, with tadpoles developing rapidly before the water dries.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleNo Significant Interaction with Humans 1 Living or Extinct Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Anura, Taxa Source Wikidata: Plains Spadefoot
In Biome
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Spea bombifrons
Desert, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Spea bombifrons
Lake, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Spea bombifrons
In Ecosystem
Source Plains spadefoot toad (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Spea bombifrons
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyEconomic Importance for Humans
There is no known negative economic importance for humans.
Primary Diet, Spea bombifrons
Primary Diet carnivore carnivore
Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
In Biome: Desert, Habitat Regions, biome: desert or dune
desert or dune desert or dune
In Biome: Chaparral, Habitat Regions, biome: chaparral
chaparral chaparral
In Biome: Lake, Habitat Regions, biome: lakes and ponds
lakes and ponds
View the Source 2. Plains spadefoot toad (Wikipedia)
lead paragraph (habitat realm), EntityId 317261
Like other species of spadefoot toads, they get their name from a spade-like projection on their hind legs which allows them to dig into sandy soils.
In Ecosystem: Great Plains, Lead
The plains spadefoot toad (Spea bombifrons) is a species of American spadefoot toad which ranges from southwestern Canada, throughout the Great Plains of the western United States, and into northern Mexico.
View the Source3. GBIF Species API
4. NatureServe Explorer: Spea bombifrons
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
View the Source 5. Wikidata: Plains Spadefoot
Wikidata- Wikidata Q2274685, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
- Wikidata Q2274685 (P225 taxon name)
- Child Taxon Of: Anura, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source 6. Plains Spadefoot (Wikipedia)
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